Centre approves ITIs, SDCs

BHUBANESWAR: The Ministry of Labour and Employment has approved the State Government’s plan for establishment of five industrial training institutes (ITIs) and ten skill development centres (SDCs) in the five Left-wing extremist-affected districts.The Central approval follows firm assurance from the State to make supplementary budget provision for the proposed institutes.A Centrally sponsored scheme, it is valid for the current financial year. The Labour and Employment Ministry will provide 75 per cent of the total cost while the remaining 25 per cent will be borne by the State Government. The total cost has been estimated at ` 31.63 crore.The Ministry has sanctioned one ITI and two SDCs for each of the five districts of Gajapati, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Deogarh and Sambalpur. In Malkangiri, the ITI will be set up at Matheli, while the SDCs will be located at Chitrakonda and Motu.The Industries Department has selected Gajabahal under Bisam Cuttack block for the ITI while the two SDCs will be set up at Guma and Jilidipeta in Rayagada district.Rasanpur under Maneswar block of Sambalpur district will have a ITI, while Rengali and Sahaspur will have one SDC each. In Deogarh district, Barokote will have an ITI while Riamal and Tileibani will have one SDC each.For Gajapati district, Rayagada is the site for ITI, while Nuagarh and Shyamgainthy have been selected for the SDCs.The Centre will bear the total expenses of the skill development programmes.Sources in the Industries Department said the proposal from the Labour Ministry had come after the annual plan was finalised. Hence, there was no budget provision for the proposed institutes. The Industries Department had submitted a proposal to the Government in May to divert the unspent Central assistance of ` 11 crore meant for upgradation of the ITIs into centres of excellence as the State’s share for the proposed ITIs and SDCs.The Department had further proposed to relocate the ITI and SDCs sanctioned for Gajapati district to Nabarangpur, another Maoist-affected district, as two ITIs are already functioning at Humma and Mohana with aid from the Ministry of Minority Affairs. However, it was turned down by the Centre.